A man who was born disabled in central China has defied expectations by
being admitted to the elite Harvard University in the United States.

Ding Ding, aged 29, attributed his success in his academic studies as well
as overcoming many of his physical handicaps to his mother’s persistence and
endless devotion, the news website Xinhuanet.com reports.

Ding nearly suffocated during a birth complication in 1988, leaving him
with cerebral palsy. Doctors in Hubei province suggested to his mother Zou
Hongyan that she give up the baby, saying it was worthless trying to rescue him
as he would grow up either disabled or with low intelligence.

Even the boy’s father agreed with the doctors and told Zou that the boy
would be a burden for the family for his entire life. But Zou insisted on
saving the boy and soon divorced.

To support the family and provide treatment for her son, Zou took up
several jobs including a full-time position at a college in Wuhan as well as
part time jobs as a protocol trainer and selling insurance.

In her spare time, she regularly took Ding to rehabilitation sessions,
regardless of the weather. She learnt how to massage his stiff muscles, a
symptom of his condition. At the same time, Zou would play intelligence
boosting games and puzzles with him.

The mother also insisted from the start that her son would learn to
overcome his disabilities as far as possible. For example, Ding had problems
coordinating his hand movements, and found if difficult to use chopsticks.

While many relatives said it was perfectly understandable that Ding did not
use chopsticks while eating, Zou insisted on training him to do so. Otherwise,
she said, he would have to explain each time he dined with others why he was
unable to use them.

I didn’t want him to feel ashamed about this physical problems,” she said.
“Because he had inferior abilities in many areas, I was quite strict on him to
work hard to catch up where he had difficulties.”

Ding graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Peking University’s
Environmental Science and Engineering School in 2011 before enrolling for a
master’s degree at the university’s International Law School.

After working for two years, Ding started further studies at the US Ivy
League Harvard University last year. The report did not mention which major he
was studying.

He said he often missed his mother who now lives in Jingzhou, Hubei
province. He described his mother as his “spiritual mentor” while she relished
their “close friendship”.